Apple started rolling out iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 yesterday, opening the door for iPhone and iPad owners within the European Union to use alternative app stores. Although EU users can now access third-party alternatives, it appears that this permission will only exist while residing in EU countries.
On its support page on alternative app markets, Apple describes how it will approach the use of third-party app stores in the EU. The company explains in its availability section that a device’s eligibility for alternative app markets is “determined using on-device processing.” In the next paragraph, however, the company says that those users will not retain that eligibility if they leave the EU for too long:
If you leave the European Union for a short-term trip, you will still have access to alternative application markets during the grace period. If you’re away for too long, you’ll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app markets. Apps you’ve installed from alternative app markets will continue to work, but they can’t be updated by the market you downloaded them from.
Apple mentions that users will lose access to third-party app stores, and apps will also be unable to be updated through those stores. It is not clear what other features users will lose if they travel outside the EU for too long. The Cupertino-based company also did not say how long the “grace period” would be for using alternative app stores outside the EU.